A teenager was strangled and forced to apologize for being gay during a homophobic attack on a London Tube train.
The 19-year -old and his friends were subjected to verbal and physical homophobic abuse on board a Jubilee line train as they made their way to an event, in fancy dress.
The victims were travelling on a westbound at around 11.10pm on Saturday October 2, when the offenders boarded the train at West Ham station.
Initially, they directed verbal homophobic abuse at him but when challenged they became more aggressive, with one of the offenders pulling him out of his seat and into a headlock.
The second offender snatched the victim’s mobile phone and made threats to stab him as they demanded that he apologise for being gay.
The victim, who was struggling to breathe, apologised and was handed back his phone and let go, but a fight broke out between the victim’s friends and the offenders.
One of the victim’s friends, a 25-year-old woman, sustained bruising after being punched and pushed to the ground.
The victims left the train at North Greenwich station.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Hate crime will not be tolerated by British Transport Police.
“We believe that everyone has the right to travel safety.
“We won’t tolerate behaviour where someone is targeted because they are perceived to be different, or made to feel uncomfortable on their journey.”
British Transport Police has released images of two men they wish to speak with, as they may have information which could help their investigation (above).
